Wet Paint Co-Owners Scott Fares & Darin Rinne Named Advocate of the Year

St. Paul (October 1, 2025) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to recognize Wet Paint co-owners Scott Fares and Darin Rinne with the Advocate of the Year award, part of the 2025-2026 Minnesota's Retail Champions program. This award celebrates their tireless efforts to protect and promote the retail community through their successful advocacy this year around preserving access to professional artist materials.

"Darin and Scott's advocacy is a powerful example of how retailers can shape public policy for the betterment of consumers and the industry," said Bruce Nustad, President of Minnesota Retailers. "They recognized an issue that threatened their business and the livelihoods of artists across the state. By engaging with lawmakers and educating them on the critical role of these artist materials, they championed a solution that protects both commerce and artistic expression. Their commitment and passion for this cause make them truly deserving of the Advocate of the Year award."

Based in Saint Paul, Wet Paint has served the local arts community for decades as a leading independent art supply store. When a state law banned professional artist materials containing cadmium and lead making Minnesota the only government in the world with such a ban, Scott and Darin took a proactive approach. They worked directly with state representatives and testified before legislative committees to highlight the unintended consequences of the ban on consumers, artists and retailers. Their efforts were instrumental in the successful amendment of the law, which now exempts professional art supplies, ensuring Minnesota artists can continue to access the high-quality materials essential to their craft.

"We are incredibly humbled and honored to be named Advocate of the Year," said Darin Rinne. "Our work on this issue was born from a deep concern for our customers and the broader artistic community. We simply wanted to ensure that the artists who have dedicated their lives to their craft were not held back by a law that didn't account for their needs. This award is a testament to what can be accomplished when a business owner steps up to advocate for what they believe in."

"This was a true team effort," added Scott Fares. "We are grateful to the legislators and our community partners who stood with us. We believe that a thriving retail environment is one that supports the unique needs of its customers, and we’re proud to have played a part in securing that for Minnesota’s artists."

Fares and Rinne will accept the award at Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event—held at Brookview in Golden Valley—will feature an insightful keynote presentation from Business Growth Advisor Tamara Prato, titled “Driving Retail Growth: People, Planning, and Your Best Customers.” For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to watch a video featuring this award winner!

Click here to see all the 2025-2026 Minnesota's Retail Champions!

About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631